Some products and services may not be available in all states. Credit and collateral are subject to approval. Terms and conditions apply.
This is not a commitment to lend. Programs, rates, terms and conditions are subject to change without notice.

How to Manage Your Mortgage

Mortgage debt works the same thing as any other kind of debt. The longer it takes to have it cleared off from your name, the higher its costs will be. However, you can be able to save thousands of dollars just by overpaying. Since any excess payment gets applied to your principal balance, the more you do excess payments on the account, the shorter your loan will be. But how will you be able to do that when you’re only living paycheck after paycheck?

Be Careful About Penalties

Be mindful about your loan’s penalties. Some mortgages might charge you with fees if you pay more than your monthly payment. This may sound odd but letting you pay them faster would make them lose money. So some mortgage companies do charge their customers instead. If this is the case, ask if you can switch to a flexible mortgage plan instead. This will allow you to pay extra without any penalties after you make a payment.

Rent a Room in Your House

One of the easiest ways to trim off some of your monthly charges would be by renting out your spare room. Make sure that the room that you’re going to be renting out is clean and furnished. This will attract renters who can’t afford to get their own unit yet. This is very much advisable if you have a house in cities like Birmingham. The average rent in cities is much more expensive. So by renting just a room, people can be able to save money.

Refinance Your House

Another way to save some money is to refinance your house. As soon as you’ve done that, you can then change to a much shorter term mortgage. Choosing a shorter term mortgage may mean that your monthly expenses will be higher, but the good thing about it is that you can finish off your loan much faster as well.

Know Your Options

Ask your lender if they have any options to help you when you get into a financial trouble. Most lenders do offer an extension or deferment, which means that one or two of your months will be put at the end of the loan. However, doing so may require you to make a payment. So if you’re two months behind, your lender will require you to make one regular car payment to process the deferment. That payment will then be split in half and then get applied to the months that are behind. It’s a great option for customers who are experiencing any financial difficulty.

Use Automated Notifications

Some people tend to overlook their bill. There may be an instance when your statements don’t get to your house on time. You can’t really blame your lender about it. That’s why most agents in Alabama advised their clients to subscribe to automated notifications instead.